Ever since their deal Allen felt a lot ‘freer’, however he was still in fact what you may call a prisoner.

He thoughtfully appealed to the demon’s interest and finally after 2 days although barely he had managed to convince it. No longer was it cutting him into pieces.

He no longer spent his days suffering, but instead looking for clues as to what he got himself into. It really helped a lot that he no longer had to worry about a bloodthirsty demon panting behind his back, but even with his newfound freedom it was hard to cope with the challenges of a new world. Finally, he had the time to search his surroundings thoroughly and discover the place…

He often thought about the properties of the crystals dimly lighting his new home. They shone in all the colors of the rainbow as they lured him ever closer. He couldn’t fathom how such beautiful things could exist in such a cruel and hostile world.

He was about to touch one when a tentacle suddenly burst out, blocking his way to the gem. He looked at the owner of such weapon questioningly. Was the fiend so greedy that it didn’t want him to touch the precious stone?

Profugus must know as well that there was no way that he would try to steal it, so then why? He didn’t assume such a thing about the monster before… Though, it was next to impossible to glean any insight to the monster mind’s inner workings as its foul expression never betrayed anything close to emotion.

Its maw parted as the familiar screeching noise reverberated in the air. The incomprehensible sounds made sense as it was instantaneously reinterpreted inside his mind.

“Don’t touch them…” It said, while pointing a clawed finger at him.

“You are too weak… they will promptly devour you.”

Allen looked back at the crystals in disbelief, then back to the demon. But it didn’t seem like he was joking. The monster didn’t even seem to have the capacity to do so.

He examined once more the glowing stones. He doubted the demon was telling him the truth, but then again what reason did it have for lying? He carefully observed the dimming crystals. How could something so beautiful be so vicious?

Though, he should have expected it as everything in this world was cruel. He would trust the demon’s words for now… But in the end, everyone and everything in this world were out for his blood. Allen wasn’t so naïve to believe that this demon would be an exception.

He was lucky up until now, he managed to catch the interest of the abhorrent thing, but how long would it hold up? How long until he is back on the cold table under the piercing gaze of the shadow yet again?

He would have to find a way to strengthen himself, so when he escaped, he would have a chance to survive in the outside world. In the meantime, he took a quick note, ‘not to touch anything alluring in the future.’ It would probably be a trap anyways, and he wouldn’t voluntarily walk into them if he could help it.

“Come now, you have to eat…” The demon told him, as a creepy smile etched itself across its cruel visage. Its countless teeth on display had a crimson tint to them under the dim light. Allen felt a chill run down his spine.

“…unless of course, you want my parasites to start devouring you.”

Allen cringed as a vision materialized inside his mind. — Tentacles erupting all over his skin just to dive back down as quickly as they appeared. Piercing new holes throughout his body in the process. — He had all but forgotten about the event.

Presumably, the demon had erased his memories of the incident, or he simply blacked out. If he was indeed unconscious when the deed occurred, then it would explain the hole in his memory. This however didn’t change the fact that night after night the cruel visions returned to haunt him.

He defeated those visions using a truly effective method. The principle of ‘if something doesn’t exist in the real world then it cannot harm me’. However, every time he used this method, he couldn’t help but wonder and question it. Was he still in the real world? Was he just in an exceedingly long nightmare? Did he fall to hell? Was he transferred to an entirely new plane similar to that of hell? He didn’t know but thinking about it only made his headache worse.

Those goddamn parasites were indeed quite useful. Thanks to them he could fully understand the demon. They were also the reason that he had a chance to convince the demon — to stop butchering him — was given.

He was grateful but being aware of an alien entity moving inside of him had a serious mental affliction. Not to mention that the little things didn’t shut up but kept on blabbering in incomprehensible noises. This only worsened his symptoms. The frequent itchiness and the burning sensation were only the cherry on top.

Allen was led inside another room, carved out by his host no doubt. It was an unnaturally wide expanse spanning 10 ft up to the air, and hundreds of feet to the sides. However, what caught his attention was not the abnormal largeness of the facility, but what it housed.

There were dozens of different kinds of animals locked behind a wall of blood red thorns.

Just as he was led inside the chamber an animal which eerily resembled a pig — apart from its ashen color, and abnormal size — ran towards him. The beast stood at a staggering 6 ft tall the same height he was. He could only stare in disbelief as the beast rammed its tusk hard against the tight rows of thorns.

It was intending to skewer him — the realization hit him like a train as he took a step back in fright. Though, the moment his eyes met the piercing gaze of his companion his fear evaporated. There was no way in hell that he was brought here to die, after all they had a deal. But then again, even if he were betrayed, he doubted that the great demon would need to use cheap tricks like luring him into a trap. The knowledge that he was safe so long as he stood with this abomination by his side let him loosen up considerably.

He let out a sigh. Old Profugus would no doubt protect him should it come down to that.

His eyes widened as the thorned branches abruptly moved on their own. They encircled the rapid beast in but a moment, and pinched. The poor creature had blood spraying all around him as countless thorns impaled it from all direction. The poor animal didn’t have the chance to scream — it died instantly.

“Meal served.” The demon said, before a tentacle elongated from his back and pulled the remains of the pig like creature, though considering it had tusks it would be more fitting to call it a boar.

Allen stared at the remains of the animal, surely Profugus didn’t want him to eat it raw now, did he? The voice as if on que crushed his hopes.

“What are you waiting for? Dig in.”

Allen made a wry smile looking at the less than mouthwatering dish. Though his companion didn’t seem to share his concerns as the demon ripped of a leg and swallowed it whole.

Allen looking at the surreal scene gave up; he would blame it on Profugus if he got sick after this.

Defeated he bent down and made his resolve to partake in the act.

“Bon appetit. I guess…”